Apparatus for submarine operations.



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APPARATUS FDR SUBMARINE OPERATIUNS.

(Application filed Sept. 4 1900.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES LPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. BROWN, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOSTEPHEN G. MARTIN AND ABRAHAM S. MARTIN, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR SUBNARINE OPERATIONS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,125, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed September 4, 1900. Serial No. 28,933. (Nomodel.)

T0 all whom t may concern/f Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BROWN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Port Huron, in the county ofSt. Clair and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Submarine Operations, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention has reference to an improved apparatus for excavating fromthe'bottoms of bodies of water; and it consists in the peculiarconstruction of the apparatus and in the peculiar arrangement andcombination of the various parts thereof, as will be more fullyhereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, in which- Figure lis avertical central section through the apparatus,showing the constructionof the various parts and the connecting mechanism therefor; and Fig. 2is a horizontal section therethrough, and Fig. 3 isan enlarged s'ectionthrough the joint between sections.

The reference-letter A designates a float in the form of a scow, whichis provided with a well B.

C designates a caisson formed, preferably, in sections,which is adaptedto extend through the well to and to be sunk within the riverbed in theusual manner. In construction the caisson comprises a series ofsections, suchv as D, preferably cylindrical in configuration and eachprovided at its top and bottom edges with inwardly-extending annularflanges E.

F designates gaskets adapted to be arranged between the flanges of theadjoining sections, and Gr designates securing bolts passing through theflanges and gaskets to secure the sections together.

In arranging the parts for operation the caisson is formed section bysection and lowered within the well until the lower end rests upon theriver-bed. The excavating is then effected and the caisson sunk in theusual manner. To raise the caisson within the well after the excavatinghas been effected,

I employ a simple mechanism by means of z which the raising can beeected in a rapid and convenient manner. In construction the raisingmechanism referred to comprises one or morepontoons or drums, suchasl-I, adapted to be lowered within the sunken caisson, and mechanismfor locking each drum to the interior of the caisson-sections.

In construction each drum comprises a cylindrical casing similar to thatof the caissonsections, of substantially the same length as the latter,but of considerably less diameter. At the opposite ends of the drum arearranged the heads I, secured to the cylindrical drum-wall in suchmanner as to form an air-tight compartment within. Upon the exterior ofeach drum thus described is one or more spring-catches, such as J,composed of the bar K and the laterally extending spring L, arrangedintermediate the free end of the bar and the drum-wall for the purposeof holding the bar normally outward. These drums are lowered one by onewithin the sunken caisson and water is subsequently pumped within thelatter. The upward movement of the drums caused by the admission of thewater is limited by the drum locks or catches, which engage beneath theinwardlyextending annular anges of the caisson-sections, and the caissonis caused to rise within its well in the desired manner.

From the description of my invention as thus set forth it will bereadily seen that I provide a simple and eective means for :raising thecaisson and that while I have shown the preferable form of apparatus forthis purpose and a particular type of lock various other modificationscould be made without in any manner departing from the spirit of myinvention.

It will be understood that although the drums or pontoons loosely fitwithin the caisson they do not form a water-tight joint therewith, sothat when water is admitted from above it will force its way downwardbetween the walls of the caisson and the drums and will exert itshydrostatic pressure to lift the caisson.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an apparatus for submarineoperations, the combination with a caisson of a pontoon adapted to belowered within said caisson, and means for locking said pontoon IOO tosaid caisson whereby upon the admission of water beneath said pontoonsaid caisson will be raised.

2. In an apparatus for submarine operations, the combination with acaisson of a pontoon of slightly less diameter than said caisson adaptedto be lowered therein and to be locked thereto, whereby water admittedto said caisson above said pontoon will pass below the same and exertits hydrostatic pressure to lift said pontoon and caisson.

3. In an apparatus for submarine operations, the combination with acaisson, of a multiple of pontoons loosely fitting within said caissonand adapted to be successively lowered therein, and means forautomatically locking said pontoons in their lowest positions to thewalls of the caisson, for the purpose described.

It. In an apparatus for submarine operations, the combination with afloat and a sectional caisson adapted to be lowered to cxtend downwardfrom said float, to the bottom, of a plurality of pontoons, looselyfitting and adapted to be lowered within said caisson, cachcorresponding in size substantially to one section of the caisson, andadapted to automatically lock thereto, whereby upon the admission ofwater into the caisson the latter will be raised and the raised sectionsmaybe successively removed from the upper end.`

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. BRO WN.

Witnesses:

1I. C. SMITH, 1. M. HULBERT.

